Baby shower hammock

ABSTRACT

This invention is a baby shower hammock which is designed to safely carry an infant or young baby in the shower. 
     The hammock is designed in the shape of a cradle where an infant is placed. 
     The hammock has one strap (there are two ends connected by a buckle). The strap is attached to the hammock by stitching (i.e. a basic straight stitch; using machine-cotton thread). 
     The child will be placed horizontally in the “bed” of the hammock. The adult will place straps around the neck and/or shoulders, and place the infant in the hammock. 
     The hammock has semi-permeable walls so that (while showering) the water will easily flow out of the hammock. In addition, the hammock is designed so that the baby&#39;s face is a close distance (approximately one foot) from the adult&#39;s face. 
     The hammock is easy to wear. The adult simply buckles the straps and places the child inside. 
     Safety of the child is of paramount concern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the class of inventions in which infants or babies are carried in the water or an aqueous environment.

The applicant is aware of the following U.S. patents:

U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,873

US Patent No. 2007/0278264 A1

On information and belief, the aforementioned infant carriers are not designed for specific use in a shower. In addition, the infant carriers identified above are not necessarily designed for carrying the child in a vertical position.

The invention in this application is designed for use with babies who may not be able to be safely carried in a vertical position. Also, the design permits the parent/adult to have access to the infant's body so as to facilitate use of soap, shampoo, rinsing, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an infant-carrier designed for use in the shower. The invention contains a carrying pouch where the infant is placed. The bottom portion is made of padded material where the child can be laid on its back. The pouch resembles a padded cradle. The walls of the hammock are made of netted material with small holes to permit water to flow out freely. The hammock is approximately one foot deep so as to permit the infant to move and also to ensure that the child can be safely turned on its side during the showering process. The top of the hammock is open to permit the adult to observe and bathe the child. Also, the open area permits water to flow freely. The hammock is made of padded material so that the child can be carried safely inside.

The carrier contains a strap which is to be worn around the neck of the adult. The strap is joined by an adjustable buckle.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the flooring/bottom of the invention (from the outside).

FIG. 2-A shows the invention from the inside (front portion).

FIG. 2-B shows the inside rear of the hammock (i.e. side of the body of the hammock where the feet are placed).

FIG. 2-C shows the side of the hammock from the inside.

FIG. 3 shows the invention from the top.

This figure shows the inside front of the hammock (i.e. the side of the body of the hammock above the area where the head is placed). Details on the buckle are also shown.

FIG. 4 shows the side of the hammock from the outside.

FIG. 5 shows the outside of the hammock, depicted from the front (where the head is placed).

FIG. 6 shows the outside of the hammock, depicted from the bottom (where the feet are placed).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1

This figure shows the flooring of the invention (from the outside).

Part (1) shows the head area (which is round or in the shape of a parabola).

Part (2) shows that the padding for the head portion is sewn to the net/mesh material by way of a basic straight stitch.

Part (3) shows the bottom of the invention where the feet of the infant are placed (which comes to a point like a triangle).

Part (4) shows that the padding for the torso portion is sewn to the net/mesh material by way of a basic straight stitch.

Part (5) shows the space between the head padding and the torso padding.

Part (6) shows the bottom portion of the hammock (without any padding)

Part (7) simply shows the stitching that surrounds the bottom portion of the padding.

FIG. 2-A

This figure shows the inside front of the hammock (i.e. the side of the body of the hammock above the area where the head is placed).

Part (1) shows the mesh netting at the top and sides of FIG. 2-A.

Part (2) shows the band that encases the entire hammock is show along the front of the invention.

Part (3) shows the solid nylon material that is shown along the front of the invention.

Part (4) shows the stitching where the material i.e. the seam (i.e. joining the material from the two sides of the hammock) is shown.

FIG. 2-B

This figure shows the inside rear of the hammock (i.e. side of the body of the hammock where the infant's feet are placed).

Part (1) shows the band that girds the top of the hammock.

Part (2) shows the center of the vertical threading where the band is attached together.

Part (3) shows the nylon material and stitching in the shape of a triangle.

Part (4) shows the netting/mesh material at the bottom of the hammock.

FIG. 2-C

FIG. 2-C shows the side of the hammock from the inside.

Part (1) shows the band which is stitched to the nylon casing (part (2)).

Part (3) shows the middle portion of the nylon casing.

Part (4) shows the netting/mesh which forms the floor of the hammock.

FIG. 3 (The Hammock)

FIG. 3 shows the invention from the top. It is oblong and oval in shape. It shows the area where the infant is placed.

Part (1) shows the area where the head is placed. The head area is approximately 8 inches long. At the top of the head area, the width is approximately 3 inches, but the width then increases to approximately 10½ inches. The head area is surrounded by approximately 19 inches of padding that is approximately 3 inches in height. The padding is foam and is approximately ½ inch in thickness. The foam is encased in 100% nylon material.

Part (2) shows the remaining floor of the hammock that is covered by a rectangular-shaped padding measuring 10½×9½ inches. This portion of the hammock is designed for the torso of the infant.

Part (3) shows the remainder of the flooring of the hammock is the netting/mesh material. The infant's legs and feet will be placed at this location. It covers an area of approximately 6 to 7 inches.

Part (4) shows the head padding that is stitched by thread (i.e. a basic straight stitch) to the body of the hammock. Specifically, the head padding is stitched to the bottom of the hammock. The “side” head padding is stitched at a distance of approximately 3 to 5 inches (see FIG. 2), thus permitting the “side” head padding to allow water to slip through the open pockets on the side of the head. The pad is approximately ½ inch in thickness.

Part (5) shows the rectangular pad that is stitched to the net material by a standard straight-thread. The pad is approximately ½ inch in thickness.

Part (6) shows that the pads on the floor of the hammock (i.e. the head padding and the torso padding) are separated by approximately 1 inch. This “gap” between the head padding and the torso padding is designed to permit water to escape through the hammock.

Part (7) shows the flooring that will be stitched to the sides. A band (made from foam and covered in nylon) is sewn along the seam edges for esthetic purposes. Also, the band reinforces the material to make the invention sturdy.

FIG. 4

This figure shows the side of the hammock from the outside. Both sides of the hammock are mirror images of one another.

Part (1) shows the hammock that is a semi-permeable netting/mesh-type material with semi-permeable material. The design permits durability in that it is sturdy enough to carry a child weighing up to 25 pounds (or an infant of 3 to 9 months of age) yet it permits water to escape the sides. The netting material is semi-permeable to allow water to escape and it is 100% polyester.

Part (2) consists of three (3) squares of material that are stitched together. The squares are open at the top so as to store soap, shampoo, etc.

Part (3) shows the side of the hammock that is stitched to the flooring.

Part (4) shows the band/strip that runs the length of the side of the hammock. The band is foam and is covered by 100% nylon.

Part (5) shows the manner that the strap is attached to the body of the hammock.

Part (6) shows the buckle—it is plastic and contains two (2) pieces.

Part (7) shows the straps that are inserted through the buckles.

The buckle is detachable, and it shows the manner that the two (2) separate straps are hooked or snapped together.

Part (8) shows the strap, which is foam and encased in nylon. It is attached to the head and the foot of the hammock as depicted above.

FIG. 5

FIG. 5 shows the outside of the hammock, depicted from the front (where the head is placed).

Part (1) shows the strap that is stitched to the body of the hammock.

Part (2) shows the band beneath the strap running horizontally at the top of the hammock.

Part (3) shows the stitching whereby the band is attached to the body of the hammock.

Part (4) shows the storage pockets at opposite ends (i.e. one on the right and one on the left) and are stitched to the body of the hammock. The storage pockets are 100% nylon.

Part (5) shows the material that is stitched together (at the seam) vertically.

Part (6) shows the floor of the hammock attached to the center ending in the shape of a triangle.

FIG. 6

FIG. 6 shows the outside of the hammock, depicted from the rear.

Part (1) shows the strap stitched to the body of the hammock.

Part (2) is shown beneath the strap running horizontally at the top of the hammock.

Part (3) shows the stitching, whereby the band is attached to the body of the hammock.

Part (4) shows the floor of the hammock that is stitched to the side (running horizontally) as shown on the bottom of FIG. 6. 

1. A strap around the neck and/or over the shoulder of the adult user. The strap is compromised of two (2) ends, and each end is stitched to opposite sides (head and foot) of the body of the hammock. The strap is nylon.
 2. A hammock for carrying a child in the front of the adult's body (as opposed to the back or side of the adult).
 3. A buckle where the male part is inserted into the female part to simply snap together. The buckle is capable of adjusting by sliding the strap around one end of the buckle. The buckle is made of plastic material.
 4. A soft padded bed with foam to protect the head. The bed of the hammock is foam and surrounded by nylon.
 5. A soft padded bed with foam for the torso surrounded by nylon.
 6. A hammock of a depth of approximately 1 foot and a width of approximately 1 foot designed expressly for carrying a young infant. The design is to ensure that the infant is safely within a close distance of the adult's face and hands. The adult in the shower can then appropriately monitor the child, and can bathe the child (lather, soap, rinse, shampoo, etc.).
 7. A permeable bottom and sides for water to escape surrounded by nylon. The water is able to freely flow out of the hammock.
 8. A foam band around the top of the outside portion of the hammock for girding. It is also designed for aesthetic purposes. 